Shores man, 40, found guilty of sexually abusing 11-year-old girl

Published: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 2:41 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 5:16 p.m.

A man arrested in October 2012 for allegedly having sexual relations with an 11-year-old girl was found guilty Wednesday and sentenced to life in prison.

Heeralall Puran, 40, of Silver Springs Shores, was charged with sexual battery on a person under 12. He faced a jury of three women and three men in Circuit Court Judge Brian Lambert's courtroom at the Marion County Judicial Center.

Assistant State Attorney Bryon Aven told jury members Puran was acquainted with the girl's family and had given her his cellphone number. Aven said the parents were not aware of telephone conversations between Puran and their daughter, and began to notice a difference in her behavior, such as frequent crying.

Charles Holloman, the attorney for Puran, countered that there was no physical evidence against his client, who adamantly denied having sex with the minor.

The victim, now 12, took the stand and said she met Puran at her father's business and he told her she was pretty and gave her his cell number. She said she had a crush on him and snuck out twice to meet him. Once, nothing happened; the second time, he kissed her and had sex with her, even though she told him to stop, she said.

The girl's mother was overcome with emotion and could not complete her testimony. The girl's father first described his relationship with Puran as good, but said he later told him to stay away from his daughter once he and his wife found out they had been talking.

Marion County Sheriff's Office Detective Stacey Skinner was next on the stand. Her original arrest report noted that Puran said he had sex with the girl in his vehicle. The girl told Skinner she snuck out and she and Puran talked, then snuck out a second time and they had sex even though she told him twice to stop. Skinner told the court that investigators did not find evidence, notably a condom the victim said Puran used, relating to the sexually activity.

The audience listed to an audio interview between Puran, Skinner and another detective, in which Puran contradicted himself several times, first denying he had sex with the victim then later saying he did.

Puran took the stand. When asked by Holloman if he had sex with the victim, he said no.

Aven questioned Puran, who denied giving the girl his phone number and said he had no recollection of what the detectives said to him or what he said to them. At one point, Aven could not get him to say if a recorded device used by the detectives was turned on or off, or even if there was a recorded device. Puran claimed Skinner was telling him what to say.

At closing, Aven said the testimonies given by the girl and others were truthful and argued that the only verdict should be guilty. Holloman countered, saying there was no evidence or DNA to prove his client was lying and argued that Puran's Miranda warnings were not given to him until after his confession.

The jury began deliberation at 2:28 p.m., during which they asked to listen to recordings from the detectives and the victim's father. They reached their verdict at 5 p.m.

"It was a lawful verdict, and it was based on the facts and evidence of the case," Aven said.

"It was obvious the jurors were making a painstaking review of the evidence by the questions they asked the judge as well as the audio and video tapes they reviewed, portions of which were replayed multiple times. I cannot, under the rules of conduct, criticize their result, although we had hoped for better," Holloman said.

He added that his client has several medical issues, including dialysis for both kidneys.

<p>A man arrested in October 2012 for allegedly having sexual relations with an 11-year-old girl was found guilty Wednesday and sentenced to life in prison.</p><p>Heeralall Puran, 40, of Silver Springs Shores, was charged with sexual battery on a person under 12. He faced a jury of three women and three men in Circuit Court Judge Brian Lambert's courtroom at the Marion County Judicial Center.</p><p>Assistant State Attorney Bryon Aven told jury members Puran was acquainted with the girl's family and had given her his cellphone number. Aven said the parents were not aware of telephone conversations between Puran and their daughter, and began to notice a difference in her behavior, such as frequent crying.</p><p>Charles Holloman, the attorney for Puran, countered that there was no physical evidence against his client, who adamantly denied having sex with the minor.</p><p>The victim, now 12, took the stand and said she met Puran at her father's business and he told her she was pretty and gave her his cell number. She said she had a crush on him and snuck out twice to meet him. Once, nothing happened; the second time, he kissed her and had sex with her, even though she told him to stop, she said.</p><p>The girl's mother was overcome with emotion and could not complete her testimony. The girl's father first described his relationship with Puran as good, but said he later told him to stay away from his daughter once he and his wife found out they had been talking.</p><p>Marion County Sheriff's Office Detective Stacey Skinner was next on the stand. Her original arrest report noted that Puran said he had sex with the girl in his vehicle. The girl told Skinner she snuck out and she and Puran talked, then snuck out a second time and they had sex even though she told him twice to stop. Skinner told the court that investigators did not find evidence, notably a condom the victim said Puran used, relating to the sexually activity.</p><p>The audience listed to an audio interview between Puran, Skinner and another detective, in which Puran contradicted himself several times, first denying he had sex with the victim then later saying he did.</p><p>Puran took the stand. When asked by Holloman if he had sex with the victim, he said no.</p><p>Aven questioned Puran, who denied giving the girl his phone number and said he had no recollection of what the detectives said to him or what he said to them. At one point, Aven could not get him to say if a recorded device used by the detectives was turned on or off, or even if there was a recorded device. Puran claimed Skinner was telling him what to say.</p><p>At closing, Aven said the testimonies given by the girl and others were truthful and argued that the only verdict should be guilty. Holloman countered, saying there was no evidence or DNA to prove his client was lying and argued that Puran's Miranda warnings were not given to him until after his confession.</p><p>The jury began deliberation at 2:28 p.m., during which they asked to listen to recordings from the detectives and the victim's father. They reached their verdict at 5 p.m.</p><p>"It was a lawful verdict, and it was based on the facts and evidence of the case," Aven said.</p><p>"It was obvious the jurors were making a painstaking review of the evidence by the questions they asked the judge as well as the audio and video tapes they reviewed, portions of which were replayed multiple times. I cannot, under the rules of conduct, criticize their result, although we had hoped for better," Holloman said.</p><p>He added that his client has several medical issues, including dialysis for both kidneys.</p><p><i>Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or austin.miller@starbanner.com.</i></p>